You are here

Study Shows Gains for Women
in Mathematics

Study Shows Gains for Women
in Mathematics

A recently-concluded study (sponsored by the MAA together with the American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics) shows that women are participating in mathematics in increasing numbers. The study, which was published in the August issue of the Notices of the AMS, shows that about one third of all doctorates in the mathematical sciences during 2003-2004 went to women. This continues a long-term trend of increasing participation by women that has persisted since the 1980s, when gender records began to be kept.
The study used the ranking of graduate mathematics departments by the National Research Council to investigate the status of women in the top 48 mathematics departments in the US. Women received 25% of the doctorates at these institutions, up from 21% the previous year. Also noted were the large percentage of women among undergraduate mathematics majors, the increased visibility of women in mathematics competitions such as the Mathematical Olympiad and the Putnam Competition. For the details, see the August issue of the Notices or visit http://www.ams.org/notices/200507/survey.pdf.